U.S. patent number 5,295,811 [Application Number 07/800,950] was granted by the patent office on 1994-03-22 for portable fan with electrical control retaining stand.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Duracraft Corporation. Invention is credited to Bernard Chiu.
United States Patent |
5,295,811 |
Chiu |
March 22, 1994 |
Portable fan with electrical control retaining stand
Abstract
A portable electrical fan including a housing defining inlet and
outlet openings for transmitting air flow; a fan blade disposed in
the housing; a motor disposed in the housing and rotatably coupled
to the fan blade; and an elongated support having opposite end
portions attached to the housing and an intermediate stand portion
shaped and arranged to support the housing on a surface. Also
included are electrical controls connected to the motor and
retainer means retaining the electrical controls fixed to the
elongated support. This arrangement provides a portable electric
fan in an efficient, low cost configuration.
Inventors: |
Chiu; Bernard (Ashland,
MA) |
Assignee: |
Duracraft Corporation
(Whitinsville, MA)
|
Family
ID: |
25179802 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/800,950 |
Filed: |
December 2, 1991 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/423.15;
248/127; 248/676; 248/677; 361/825; 362/394; 403/388; 403/408.1;
415/182.1; 415/208.2; 415/213.1; 416/244R; 416/247R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F04D
25/08 (20130101); Y10T 403/75 (20150115); Y10T
403/7123 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F04D
25/08 (20060101); F04D 25/02 (20060101); F04B
035/04 () |
Field of
Search: |
;415/182.1,208.1,211.2,213.1,214.1,208.2 ;416/244R,247R
;417/423.7,423.15 ;248/127,676,677 ;361/419,427 ;403/384,388,408.1
;362/96,394 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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|
|
|
|
|
|
0129194 |
|
Jun 1988 |
|
JP |
|
0251605 |
|
Aug 1948 |
|
CH |
|
0660712 |
|
Nov 1951 |
|
SU |
|
Other References
Vornado Air Comfort System Owner's Guide, Models 280SS, 280LS and
280AE, copyright 1989..
|
Primary Examiner: Look; Edward K.
Assistant Examiner: Verdier; Christopher
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Toupal; John E. Jarcho; Harold
G.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A portable electrical fan comprising:
housing means defining inlet and outlet openings for transmitting
air flow;
a fan blade disposed in said housing means;
a motor disposed in said housing means and rotatably coupled to
said fan blade;
an elongated tubular support means having vertically extending
opposite end portions attached to said housing means and an
intermediate stand portion shaped and arranged to support said
housing means on a surface;
electrical control means connected to said motor;
retainer means retaining said electrical control means and fixed to
one of said opposite end portions, said retainer means comprising a
box enclosing said electrical control means; and
locator means comprising an aperture and a stem received thereby
for establishing a relative position between said retainer means
and said support means, and fastener means securing said retainer
means to said support means.
2. A fan according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion
comprises intersecting leg portions disposed substantially in a
given plane.
3. A fan according to claim 2 wherein said opposite end portions
project transversely to said given plane.
4. A fan according to claim 3 wherein said elongated tubular
support means is a continuous member.
5. A fan according to claim 4 wherein said housing means comprises
a substantially cylindrical portion having ends defining said inlet
and outlet openings.
6. A fan according to claim 5 wherein terminal portions of said
opposite ends are fixed to substantially diametrically disposed
positions on said cylindrical portion.
7. A fan according to claim 1 wherein said stem and said fastener
means are threaded engaged.
8. A fan according to claim 1 wherein said intermediate portion
comprises intersecting leg portions disposed substantially in a
given plane.
9. A fan according to claim 8 wherein said opposite end portions
project transversely to said given plane.
10. A fan according to claim 9 wherein said elongated tubular
support means is a continuous member.
11. A fan according to claim 10 wherein said housing means
comprises a substantially cylindrical portion having ends defining
said inlet and outlet openings.
12. A fan according to claim 11 wherein terminal portions of said
opposite end portions are fixed to substantially diametrically
disposed positions on said cylindrical portion.
13. A fan according to claim 12 wherein said support means defines
an aperture, and said retainer means comprises a stem received by
said aperture and fastener means securing said stem within said
aperture.
14. A fan according to claim 2 wherein said opposite end portions
extend in parallel directions having components both parallel and
perpendicular to said given plane.
15. A fan according to claim 14 wherein said leg portions comprise
three leg portions arranged in a U-shape.
16. A fan according to claim 1 wherein said aperture is defined by
said support means, and said retainer means comprises said stem.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a portable electric fan and,
more particularly, to a portable electric fan having electrical
controls retained by a support stand.
Electric fans are used extensively to reduce personal discomfort
caused by excessive temperature. Utilization is enhanced by fans
constructed for portability so as to facilitate movement thereof
into different locations for placement on support surfaces such as
floors, tables, window sills, etc.
The object of this invention is to provide an improved, low cost
portable electric fan.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is a portable electrical fan including a housing
defining inlet and outlet openings for transmitting air flow; a fan
blade disposed in the housing; a motor disposed in the housing and
rotatably coupled to the fan blade; and an elongated support having
opposite end portions attached to the housing and an intermediate
stand portion shaped and arranged to support the housing on a
surface. Also included are electrical controls connected to the
motor and retainer means retaining the electrical controls and
fixed to the elongated support. This arrangement provides a
portable electric fan in an efficient, low cost configuration.
According to certain features of the invention, the retainer means
is fixed to one of the end portions, the intermediate portion
comprises intersecting leg portions disposed substantially in a
given plane, and the opposite end portions project transversely to
the given plane. The transversely projecting one end portion
provides a convenient support for the electrical controls and the
leg portions function as a low cost stand.
According to another feature of the invention, the elongated
support is a continuous tubular member. This feature reduces cost
of the portable fan.
According to other features of the invention, the housing comprises
a substantially cylindrical portion having ends defining the inlet
and outlet openings, and terminal portions of the opposite end
portions are fixed to substantially diametrically disposed
positions on the cylindrical portion. This configuration provides
on a fan having an efficient, stable base.
According to yet another feature of the invention, the support
defines an aperture, and the retainer means comprises a box
retaining the electrical controls a stem received by the aperture
and a fastener securing the stem within the aperture. This
arrangement simplifies assembly of the portable fan.
According to further features of the invention, the opposite end
portions extend in directions having components both parallel and
perpendicular to the given plane and the leg portions include three
leg portions arranged in a U-shape. This configuration further
enhances stability.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other objects and features of the invention will become
more apparent upon a perusal of the following description taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fan according to the
invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the fan shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the fan shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 4 is a right side view of the fan shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A portable electric fan 11 has a cylindrical housing 12 mounted on
a base 13. Supported within the housing 12 by brackets 14 is an
electrical motor 15. A fan blade 16 is rotatably coupled to the
motor 15 within the housing 12. Opposite ends of the housing
define, respectively, an inlet opening 17 and an outlet opening 18
for transmitting air driven by the fan blade 16. Covering the inlet
and outlet openings 17, 18, respectively, are grills 21, 22.
The base 13 is formed by an elongated tubular member 23. Opposite
end portions 24 and 25 have terminal portions 26 attached to
diametrically disposed positions on the housing 12 by retainer
screws 27. An intermediate portion of the tubular member 23 is
formed by three leg portions 29 disposed in a given plane and
arranged in a U-shape as shown. The end portions 24, 25 extend in
parallel directions having components both parallel and
perpendicular to the given plane.
A control box 31 retains electrical controls connected to the motor
15 by electrical wires 32. Included in the controls are an on-off
switch 33 and a fan speed control 34. A locator stem 35 projecting
rearwardly from the control box 31 is received by a locator
aperture 37 in the end portion 25 of the tubular member 23.
Securing the internally threaded stem 35 to the end portion 25 is a
fastener screw 38 having a head portion 39 that engages a rear
portion of the end portion 25 adjacent to the aperture 37. A power
cord 41 is connected to the electrical controls within the control
box 31.
Prior to use, the fan 11 is easily transported to a region in which
air movement is desired. The U-shaped leg portions 29 are
positioned on a suitable planar surface (not shown) so as to
provide stable support for the housing 12. Selective manipulation
of the on-off switch 33 and the speed control 34 will then produce
desired operation of the fan blade 16 to induce air flow through
the inlet and outlet openings 17, 18.
Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is to be
understood, therefore, that the invention can be practiced
otherwise than as specifically described.
* * * * *